Hitchhiking in Ukraine

There are different ways to travel in Ukraine. If you want to economize, or you just like adventures, you can hitchhike. Follow some rules to make your hitchhiking easier.

Be ready to spend much time. Begin your journey in the morning and don’t plan your route with the places of stops. You can’t know exactly, when you catch a car and how long will you wait. It is more difficult to catch a car after dark, so you need to have time in reserve.

It is better to hitchhike alone, because drivers don’t like to take a group or even a pair of hitchhikers. But it doesn’t concern ladies – it can be dangerous to catch a car alone, so you’d better travel with a friend.

Drivers like broke hitchhikers more. When you try to catch a car, don’t eat sandwich and don’t listen to the music on iPod. It is good to walk backwards doubling over your thumb and to look with sad eyes at cars drawing near.

Stand in places, where traffic slows down – after curves in the way, near gas stations or traffic-police (GAI) posts. Ask drivers standing on the wayside for a ride, especially if these are long-distance truckers. Very often these drivers acquiesce and they like to have somebody to speak with.

In cities there are owner-drivers, whom you have to pay. To avoid confusion always put your thumbs up when catching a car. When a car stops, talk to a driver and tell him you are a hitchhiker. If the driver asks, how much you will pay, and you don’t want to pay, don’t get on this car.

It is difficult to catch car in city for free. If you are in a city, take a bus and go to the outskirts. Travel from city to city; don’t stop in the countries, because there is no traffic there.

If you are traveling to a long distance, it’s better to have some food, water and a sleeping bag.